|
The Colosseum is the place where ancient Romans were entertained by vicious blood sports. On the day the arena opened 5,000 animals were killed to the delight of the audience. The arena cold hold 50,000 people. Though we think of covered stadiums as a modern idea, the Colosseum could be covered to protect people inside from rain. The best sailors were plucked from the royal navy to work the intricate rigging that operated a series of giant awnings over the arena. The Colosseum was a gift to the Roman people from their rulers as a way of making ammends for the ruthlessness of emperor Nero. He confiscated the land the Colosseum stands on from the people in order to construct an artifical lake for his Domus Aurea. That lake was drained when emperor Vespasian decided to give the land back to the people in the form of the Colosseum It was a 115-foot-tall statue of Nero, known as the Colossus, that lent the arena its name.
|
Western Europe
